On s.le at all Panaima Ca.al Sivice Centers, Retail Stores, and the Tivoli Guest louse for 10 days after publication date at 5 cents each.
Subscriptions, $1 a year; mail and back copies. 10 cents each.
Postal money orders made payable to the Panama Canal Company should be mailed to Box M, Balboa Heights, C. Z.
Editorial Offices are located in the Administration Building, Balboa Heights, C. Z.

Christmas decorations at Balboa Heights Administration Building.

And it came to pass in those
days, that there went out a decree
from Caeser Aiugui',fl,. that all
the world should be taxed.
(And this taxing was first made
when Cyrenius was governor of
Syria.)
And all went to be taxed, every
one into his own city.
And Joseph also went up front
Galilee, out of the city of Naza-
reth, into Judaea, unto the city of
David, which is called Bethle-
hem; (because he was of the
house and lineage of David:)
To be taxed with Mary his
espoused wife, being great with
child.
And so it was, that, while they
w re there, the days were ac-
complished that she should be

Aii .b ro, oght forth her first-
li ..i ,t and wrapped him in
su:ddtli ir ~,lics, and laid him
in a iiiiri: I)ccaunse there was

no room for them in the inn.
And there were in the same
country shepherds abiding in the
field, keeping watch over their
flock by night.
And, lo, the angel of the Lord
came upon them, and the glory
of the Lord shone round about
them: and they were sore afraid.
And the angel said unto them,
Fear not: for, behold, I bring you
good tidings of great joy, which
shall be to all people.
For unto you is born this day
in the city of David a Saviour,
which is Chlo' the Lord.
And this shall be a sign unto
you; Ye shall find the babe
wrapped in uiodildlng clothes,
lying in a manger.
And suddenly there was with
the angel a multitude of thi'
heavenly host praising God, and
*tliIg
(;l.,y to God in the highest,
and on earth peace, good will
toward men.
-LUKE 2:1-14.

In This Issue

THE NORTHERN sections of the Western Hemi-
sphere now are entering their real winter season, but
the colorful blossoms of trees and flowers which
mark the beginning of the dry season in Panama
soon will be bursting forth in all their beauty,
marking the beginning of the local growing season
for seasonal crops.
One crop that continues its cycle of growth
throughout the year-and produces colorful flowers
in the process-is the water hyacinth. Although
beautiful and much admired by flower fanciers, Canal
offincils don't derive much satisfaction from them.
In fact, the water hyacinths represent a nuisance and,
if left unmolested, soon would be a serious menace
to operation of the waterway. How they are kept
under control by year around effort is described on
pages 8 and 9.

TO ILLUSTRATE an article on the medical care
provided disability relief annuitants of the Canal
organization under present programs, Dr. Ignacio
F.al; g.A. an enthusiastic and able amateur photog-
rapher, joined Official Photographer William Burns,
a longtime friend, to shoot a series of pictures at the
Panama Hospital clinic operated for the annui-
tants. The resulting photos and article appear on
pages 10 and 11.

THE PANAMA CANAL C(O)PANY I195'. capital expenditures have in-
spent almost $6 million more than it took creased each year since, as follows:
in during fiscal year 1961, the annual 1'li7, $5.6 million; 1958, $7.7 million;
report of the Company's Board of Di- 1959, $11.3 million; 1960, $14.7 mil-
rectors to the stockholder, Secretary of lion; 1961, $16.8 million. Coiimp.,m ffi.
the Army Elvis J. Stahr, jr., shows. The cials report that capital \pt-l.diriu,.
annual report was made public Decem- for the current fiscal year are expected
ber 1. It covers the fiscal year which to increase again, reaching $17.7 million
ended June 30. 1,'. June 30, 1962.
Capital expenditures of $16.8 million In addition to the $16.8 million for
to modernize and improve the water- capital expenditures in fiscal year 1961,
way and its services to world shipping the report to the stockholder shows
were responsible for Company spending operating expenditures for the year of
running higher than income. The i,\ipiiii.itil $84.7 million and $3 mil-
extra money to finance the capital lion for locks overhaul and channel
improvements came from cash reserves maintenance, to 1, iin t, tal spending to
accumulated in prior years. $104.5 million, :ir $5.19 million more
The report shows that fiscal year 1961 than the total income of $98.6 million.
was the fifth consecutive year that capi- The Comptroller General of the
tal expenditures by the Company have United States advised the Company on
increased over those of the previous October 31, 1961, that the accompany-
year. From a level of $5.1 million in ing financial statements "present fairly

the financial position of the Panama
Canal Company at June 30, 1961, and
the results of its operations for the year
then ended, in conformity with the
principles and standards of accounting
prescribed for executive agencies by
the Comptroller General of the United
St.,r... applied on a basis consistent
with that of the preceding year and
with applicable Federal laws."
Major capital expenditures included
in the $16.8 million spent for that pur-
pose during fiscal year 1961 were $6.6
million on widening Gaillard Cut from
300 to 500 feet; $1.5 million to purchase
three new and more powerful tugs to
assist ships using Canal facilities; $2.3
million for new and improved housing
for a, mpI,\e- s. $1 million for new tow-
ing locomotives and i lti Ir; tlhe lock
structures for them; .1id ,iilinil) t to
construct a 30-inch water main to serve
the Republic of Panama.
Major increase in opri.ili iii expenses
and other costs, which climbed from
$87.5 million in fiscal year 1960 to
approximately $93.1 million in 1961 for
an increase of $5.6 million, was $4.8
million in payroll and related costs. This
resulted p1 1i.11 ,l from general pay
increases to all employees and a $10
across-the-board in;nithl. increase to
more than 3,600 former t nplo\r ts now
on the disability relief payroll.
Total revenue of the Company in-
creased $5 million over the level of fiscal
year 1960, but operating expenses and
related costs increased $5.6 million, thus
reducing the net revenue by approxi-
mately $600,000 below the level of
fiscal year 1960.
The financial statistics presented as
part of the report show that the net
direct, interest-bearing investment of
the U.S. Government in the waterway
decreased more than $8 million during

THE PANAMA CANAL REVIEW

PANAMA CANAL COMPANY
Comparative Statement of Financial Condition
June 30, 1961 and 1960

A wider Canal for world shipping.

fiscal year 1961, primarily through
transfer of Company property to the
Republic of Panama without charge to
the Republic.
Noitng that June 30, 1961, marked
the end of the first decade of operation
of the waterway by the Panama Canal
Company, the report includes a sum-
mary of developments which have
occurred in traffic during the 10 years.
It also points to the increasing size of
ships using the Canal.
"In 1951," the report says, "only 10
i,.. II- in ii' commercial ships transited
Ill ( .,1111 Ithl registered gross tonnage
of 18,000 tons or over. These large ships
accounted for only 0.1 percent of the
total commercial transits for the year.
There were only 8 ships that transited
the Canal during that year with beams
of 80 feet or over. Seven of these transits
were by U.S. naval vessels and only
one such transit was made by a
commercial vessel.
"By contrast, during the current year
;.11 ocean-going commercial ships of
18,000 registered gross tonnage or over
transited the Canal, accounting for 3.1
percent of the commercial transits.
Ships having beams of 80 feet or
over increased to 508, of which 483
were commercial and 25 were U.S.
naval vessels."
Summarizing the program of improve-
inm nts and modernizations, the report
io -s that 1..,;1, 1961 some 6,792,000
:,uhlic yardss of earth and rock were
moved in cojinection with the Canal
widening I. .: I It also notes that
J1iI 1 ;I-1i;,, fixtures were installed in
the Cut between Pedro Mi.ml 1 Locks

ASSETS
Current Assets:
Fund balances with U.S. Treasury and cash:
Fund balance in U.S. Treasury checking account..
Cash in commercial banks, on hand, and in transit.

Notes receivable................................
Inventories, principally at average cost:
Materials and ,i[pli,. less allowances for excess,
obsolete, .nd ih..l.ln. stocks of $929,171 and
$1,040,915, respectively ................... .
Merchandise held for sale.....................

Other current assets. .............................
Total current assets. ...........................
Fixed Assets:
Cost. ..........................................
Less depreciation and valuation allowances ..........

LIABILITIES AND EQUITY
Current Liabilities:
Accounts payable:
U.S. Government Agencies ....................
O ther......................................

Due U.S. Treasury. ..............................
Employees' leave liability.........................
Accrued liabilities:
Salaries and wages.........................
Claims for damages to vessels .................
Other .....................................

Other current liabilities. ..........................
Total current liabilities. .........................
Reserves:
Overhaul of locks................................
Non-capital power conversion costs .................
Maintenance of channels. .........................

and Gamboa and that 515 lighting
standards equipped with 812 luminaries
were installed on the lock walls.
Detailing the status of five major
improvement projects included in the
current program, the report says that t

Comparative Statement of
Fiscal Years Ended June

Revenue:
Tolls..........................
Credit for tolls on U.S. Government vessels
Commodities sold......................
Service sales and rentals. ..............
Total revenue ......................
Operating expenses and other costs:
Payroll and related costs ...............
Material and other operating expenses ....
Cost of commodities sold..............
Depreciation.......................
Net cost of Canal Zone Government......
Interest on net direct investment of U.S. Go
Total operating expenses and other costs
Net Revenue.............................

Statement of Changes in Equity of
Fiscal Year Ended

Equity at July 1, 1960 ...................
Additions:
Net revenue....................
Excess of market over book value of
properties transferred to Republic
of Panama under 1955 Treaty...
Property transfers, other Federal
agencies, net................
Adjustment of prior years' provision
for depreciation of fixed assets..
Reactivation of plant............

Reduction:
Market value of properties trans-
ferred to Republic of Panama
under 1955 Treaty...........
Equity at June 30, 1961 ..................

upon their completion in 1971 they now in use. The first of these are due
'will bring the present Canal up to its to arrive in January l'h62 and the
maximum capacity. The five projects are $5.9 million project is scheduled for
as follows: completion in 1964.
1. New and more powerful locks 2. Installation of an electronic ship
owing locomotives to replace those dispatching and marine traffic control
system to permit maximum utilization
Revenue and Expenses of the locks is scheduled for completion
in about 2 years at an estimated cost of
e 30, 1961 and 1960 -2 3 million.
3. Modification of lock overhaul tech-
1961 1960 niques to reduce a single lane outage
for locks gate overhaul to approximately
............ 4,165,958 $50,981,928 24 hours. Now in the design stage,
............ 1,006,756 821,104 the project is expected to cost about
........ 19,915,614 18,025,457 $10 million.
............ 23,313,516 23,601,929 $10 million.
3,33,56 23,61,99 4. Widening of Gaillard Cut from
............ 98,401,844 93,430,418 300 to 500 feet, scheduled for com-

....... .. 47,968,393 43,112,837 pletion in 1967, at an estimated cost
4,432,170 4,363,648 of 4-1 million, of which $19.3 million
....... 13,624,847 13,338,218 was under contract or completed on
............ 4,926,835 4,981,952 June 30, 1961.
............ 13,365,899 12,801,246 5. Deepenin the channel from 42
vemment.... 8,770,690 8,925,188 e
to 47 feet throughout the length of the
........... 93,088,834 87,523,089 waterway, thus improving ship maneu-
........... $5,313,010 $5,907,329 verability through Gaillard Cut and
increasing the supply of water available
for lockages during < dtinm., dry
the United States Government periods. This project, which will require
about 4 years to (inipl> 1, has not yet
June 30, 1961 been started and is expected to cost
$ 21 5 million.
Net direct Retained Thatcher Ferry Any increase in Canal capacity after
investment revenue non- Bridge non- Any increase in Canal capacity after
interest-bearing interest-bearing interest-bearing completion of these p1niti t t. the report
$338,519,248 $107,884,928 $19,897,344 concludes, "can be provided only by
construction of an additional lock lane
.... ..... 5,313,010 .......... or a sea level canal."

THE FIRST DAY of November became
a "day to remember" for approximately
650 young pupils of Panama schools,
as they came to the Canal Zone, accom-
panied by their teachers, to tour some
of the facilities of the waterway as
guests of the Canal organization.
The students and their escorts, in-
cluding 20 Spanish-speaking students
from Balboa High School, boarded a

Young visitors to Gatun Locks were introduced to the giant watery stairsteps which lift
ships over the Isthmus, with Spanish-speaking guides explaining operation of the locks.

I |

special passenger train at the Panama
Station to start their afternoon visit,
which was part of the Canal organiza-
tion's participation in the program of
Panama's Independence Week activities.
With the Balboa High School stu-
dents circulating through the cars to
offer explanations and answer questions,
the train headed for Gamboa, where
some 250 of the guests left the train to
board the Canal's sightseeing launch
Las Cruces and the tug Culebra for a
trip into Gaillard Cut and return to
Camboa.
The 400 guests remaining on the
train were taken to Gatun, where they
were conducted on a tour of the locks
by Spanish-speaking tour guides. Later,
they reboarded the train to return to
Camboa, where those who had been
aboard Las Cruces and Culebra re-
boarded the train and another group
from the train boarded the sightseeing
launch for a similar trip into the Cut.
This second group later was returned
to Panama Station by train.
Mrs. Ruth Perez de Per6, President
of the Panama Municipal Council,
accompanied the first group on Las
Cruces and near the conclusion of the
launch trip took the microphone of the
vessel's public address system to express
her deep appreciation to Governor
Carter for making the trip possible by
IPn, [liii,. for the use of Canal facilities
and equipment by the visitors. Her
remarks brought handelapping from the
other guests aboard the vessel, as the
youngsters and their teachers indicated
their concurrence.

6 DECEMBER 1, 1961

Members of the Panama Municipal Council and other parade units move through Zone.

Festive Month

NOVEMBER was a festive month in
the Canal Zone, as residents participated
in three holiday observances. Two of the
days, Veterans Day and Thanksgiving
Day, were the traditional Stateside
observances of November 11 and 23,
while the third was the Canal organiza-
tion's historic participation in festivities
commemorating the anniversary of Pan-
ama's independence, November 3, 1903.
The colorful Flag Day parades on
both sides of the Isthmus on Novem-
ber 4, highlight of the traditional 3-day
Independence festivities, were viewed
by thousands of Zonians and citizens of
Panama, many of whom came to the
Zone to watch the parades make their
way along Zone streets decorated for
the occasion with the crossed flags of
the United States and Panama.
The band of the Cuerpo de Bombe-
ros, units of the Panama National
Guard, patriotic and civic organizations
of Panama, representatives of schools in
the Republic, and units of various
U.S. military services on the Isthmus
participated in the colorful march.
Governor Carter headed the list of
Zone dignitaries present for the pledge
of allegiance to the flag at Shaler Tri-
angle, first stop for the parade after it
had assembled in Plaza Porras. Greeting
the Panamanian officials and others pre-
sent for the ceremony, Governor Carter,
speak irng in Spanish, said, "As Governor
of the Canal Zone, I am pleased to
extend greetings on this occasion of
genuine friendship. To the Panamanian
people, your neighbors in the Canal
Zone say welcome and congratula-

tions upon this significant Independence
Week occasion.
"It is just a year ago today that
I greeted you at this same spot," he
continued. "I believe we can point with
pride to the events of the past year,
during which we have all worked in
harmony. The friendship between the
people in the Zone and the people in
Panama has continued to be an example
to all the people of the world. I am very
happy to join you in a salute to the flag
of a free, independent nation."
Earlier, Governor Carter had ad-
dressed a message to Panama President
Roberto F. Chiari in which he said, "It
is with great pleasure that I extend to

Governor Carter greets Panama band which

Young Zonian buys Panama flag from ven-
dor, as parade moves past packed onlookers.
Your Excellency, in behalf of the Canal
administration and the residents of the
Canal Zone, best wishes for the happi-
ness and welfare of the Panamanian
people on the auspicious occasion of the
5'lb Anniversary of the Independence
of the Republic of Panama."
A week after the Flag Day parade,
the band of the Cuerpo de Bomberos
returned to the Canal Zone, along with
representatives of a number of other
Panamanian organizations, including
the Lions Club, and the National Guard,
to participate in the Veterans Day
parade. The quiet Thanksgiving Day
observance of November 23 concluded
the N, m\ in1, i holidays.

serenaded him November 3 at Balboa Heights.

THE PANAMA CANAL REVIEW

-1. Using small boats and musclepower, three
at employees of the hyacinth control unit
remove water grass and hyacinths
from lower Chagres River.

Battling the BEASTLY BEAUTY

Water hyacinths would
make an inland Sargasso
Sea of the waterway if
left uncontrolled.

VIOLET BLUE water hyacinths clus-
tered in little islands, scudding before a
breeze across Isthmian waters, or an-
chored in the waterways, may provide
Floating hyacinth inspiration for a poem, or for a delicate
in center is floral arrangement, but to the Dredging
less hardy than Division they represent trouble, unless
controlled.
the rooted variety. Water hyacinth control, so important
The hyacinth to the Canal operation, keeps a hyacinth
control unit of 30 men busy throughout
blossom is from the year. Last year the hyacinth control
another plant, work cost the Company/Government
approximately $66,000 and an esti-
mated 8,770,000 floating and anchored

8 DECEMBER 1, 1961

plants were yanked out of the water-
way. How did the Dredging Division's
Operations Branch count the millions of
hyacinths? Easy. A count was made of
the plants in one rowboat load, and then
multiplied by the number of loads.
The water hyacinths, over the years,
have been sprayed with chemicals and
poisons and have been pulled up by
hand in the battle to destroy them, but
they continue propagating. As a matter
of fact, they are capable of multiplying
1,000 times in 7 months, and could
make an inland Sargasso Sea of the
entire waterway if they ever got
out of hand.
No one knows exactly how the water
hyacinths got their start in Isthmian
waters, although their presence in State-
side waters always seem to result in
fanciful explanations. Two varieties are
to be found here, the South American
species which floats, and the Panama-
nian species that anchors in mud at a
depth of not more than 20 feet of water.
The tiny seeds probably were brought
by ducks or marsh birds, which carried
the seeds on their feathers or in mud on
their feet, says Canal Zone Agronomist
W. R. Lindsay.
The glossy round leaves of the water
hyacinth, of either species, shed water
like the deck of a speedboat. The
floating variety has feathery, gas-filled
roots and pithy leafstalks that are well
equipped to float and travel. The
blossoms are held aloft on a stem that
grows up in the middle of the leaf
cluster. The main stem grows out as a
runner across the surface of the water,
giving rise to new plants as it grows.
From Virginia to Missouri, and through
South America, this species turns ponds
and quiet streams into vivid masses of
color, often growing so thick that they
hide the water.
Many methods have been tried in
the battle against the hyacinths, says
P. A. White, Chief of the Dredging
Division, but this Division's hyacinth
control unit always returns to the tried
and true cutting and burning of hya-
cinths, pulling them from the water and
piling them on shore to dry so they can
be put to the torch during dry season.
Testing still goes on, however, in the
search for a sure-fire hyacinth killer.
Diesel and bunker fuel oils, and all
the new weed-killing chemicals, have
been tried as they become available.
But the water hyacinth blooms on,
and on, and on.
The hyacinths which float near the
surface of the water are easy to kill with
weed-killing compound, it has been
found. When the plants are sprayed
with 2-4-D, a plant hormone compound,

"-Av

The launch used by the hyacinth control unit moves a string of small work boats to a new
location preparatory to a fresh attack on the troublesome water plants which flourish locally.

the plants' metabolism is speeded up so
much that they eat themselves to death,
using all their reserve food in the
process. The dead plants shrivel and rot
away into the water, finally itl,.ini, to
the bottom.
The anchored water hyacinth is much
hardier than the floating variety. The
roots go down as much as 20 feet to take
root and although weed-killing chem-
icals may affect the top part of the plant,
the roots remain alive and ready to
stage a comeback.
A huge mechanical rake, built by the
Dredging Division shops, and log booms,
as well as hand-pulling of the plants,
come into action in the Dredging Divi-
sion's battle against the hyacinths. The
mechanical rake travels on a cable and
hauls out large quantities at a time. The
pile of dying water hyacinths grows
and grows with each rakeful until there
is a good-.i/ l1 hill ready for burning
\hlen drv s .isoLI comes.
The -ipn lake areas have no sign of
water hyacinthi., but the upper Chagli. i.
Chdilbre. a11d lMandingo Ht i,, Gaillard
Cut, Pedro Miguel Lake, Red Tank
Lake, thv Cuoili River, and Miraflores
Lake all have their share of the beastly
beauties. When the gates at Madden
Dam are opened, a terrific number of
the plants usually are washed down the

river. The water hyacinths have com-
pletely closed the mouth of the Trinidad
River and at the Escobal it would appear
that one could, if so minded, walk across
them, they are packed so closely.
While the water hyacinths flourish
during the rainy season, about the
same number of man hours is required
throughout the year to keep ahead of
them. A special effort is made to get
the hyacinths out of the water prior
to the beginning of the dry season.
The hyacinth piles are burned before
the rains start. Then the cycle starts
once again.
In addition to water hyacinths, the
hyacinth control unit last year removed
103,130 square feet of aquatic grass and
384.6 cords of driftwood.
Destruction of water hyacinths, iron-
ically, causes increased growth of river
grass. The hyacinths usually choke out
the grass, and vice versa. Removal of
the hyacinths upsets nature's balance
and the grass flourishes unhindered. The
latter also must be cut by hand, as no
chemicals have been found to kill it.
The Operations Branch is keenly
interested in all material and research
that concerns hyacinth control. And it
doesn't need a laboratory for testing
new chemicals-there's always a handy
water hyacinth plot available.

THE PANAMA CANAL REVIEW

7~

BETTER

MEDICAL

CARE

More health services for annuitants
ordered by Board of Directors of
Panama Canal Company at request
of Governor Carter.

PRACTICAL and economically feasible
ways of providing medical care for the
aged has become a major concern of
many people in the United States and
is drawing increasing attention there
and elsewhere as the general life ex-
pectancy and the number of aged
continues to rise.
The Canal organization, concerned
with much the same problem in relation
to a similarly aged group of some 3,100
disability relief annuitants residing on
the Isthmus, has taken a leading role in
developing several related programs
designed to fill the need of low-cost
medical care for this group of former
employees.
A major step in providing a complete
program of medical care now is being
implemented by Canal officials as the
result of recent action by the Board of
Directors of the Panama Canal Company.
The recent action by the Board pro-
vides for two part-time doctors to
furnish medical care and treatment to
thic annuitants, two additional nurses to
join tth thrcc now employed to visit the
annuitants at their homes, and arrange-
ments whereby drugs and medicines

needed by the annuitants will be
provided free-of-charge by the Canal
organization if prescribed by the
part-time doctors.
Elderly annuitant rests a few moments.

ul~ I~

The additional personnel and the free
drugs and medicines, in conjunction
with the care now being provided by
the three visiting nurses and through
a 10-month-old group health insurance
plan, Canal officials believe, will provide
efficient, economical medical care for
the annuitants.
With an average age of 71 years, the
eligible annuitants represent a number
of special medical problems. The group
health insurance program developed
for their benefit with the assistance of
the Canal organization was designed
to provide them with protection against
economically disastrous medical bills.
Employment of the visiting nurses was
aimed at providing professional nursing
care at home for the minor ailments
from which many of the annuitants suffer.
The group insurance plan, for which
each enrolled annuitant pays $2.75 per
month for medical care and 60 cents for
a $150 death benefit, was modified
somewhat in August in an effort to
reduce the expense of providing the
medical care stipulated under it. Con-
tinued operation of the plan would have
been economically impossible without
the modification, Canal officials say.

10 DECEMBER 1, 1961

Group Health Plan

Includes Free Clinics

The group plan provides payment up
to $7 per day for hospital room and
board for 31 consecutive days per
illness; up to $10 for ambulance service
to and from the hospital; up to $70
per in-patient illness for drugs, medi-
cines, anesthesia, bandages, and similar
items; up to $150 for specified surgical
operations; and up to $90 for Canal
Zone resident treatment by physicians.
The death benefit of $150 provided
under the plan is doubled in case of
accidental death.
The modification stipulates that the
insurance company is to provide free
clinics for health plan enrollees in both
Panama City and Colon and requires
that health plan enrollees must visit one
of them before they are eligible for
treatment by another physician or
surgeon, or to be hospitalized.
Unlike other medical services pro-
vided for under the insurance plan,
service at the clinics is not limited to
any specific number of days or calls.
Thus, annuitants able to do so may visit
the clinics when necessary with no
expense beyond that of the monthly
insurance premiums they pay.
The modified plan, under which the
annuitants are required to visit one of
the clinics provided by the insurance
company in order to qualify for bene-

Three ailing
annuitants await I
turns at Panama
Hospital clinic. /

'

fits, does provide, however, that any
insuree not provided satisfactory service
from the clinics or hospitals designated
by the insurance firm, then may be

1

Annuitants relax in waiting room of clinic provided by group health insurance program.

attended by any other physician, sur-
geon, or hospital in the Republic of
Panama approved by the insurance
company.
The services provided at the clinics
have been extended to include supply-
ing the insured annuitants with limited
amounts of medicines and drugs,
although the clinics are not required to
furnish them. Annuitants visiting the
clinics are questioned about their medi-
cal problems and, if indicated, examined
by the physician in charge. Diet, drugs,
medicines, or other indicated treatment
then are prescribed.
Governor Carter has taken a personal
interest in development of the plans for
improving the medical care available
to the annuitants. He presented the
plan for providing the part-time doctors,
two additional nurses, and free drugs
and medicines to the Board of Directors
during a recent quarterly meeting in
Washington. The Board then approved
the proposal.
The Personnel Bureau, which has
played a major role in developing the
programs to date, is working in close
cooperation with the Health Bureau to
institute the Board-approved plan, the
most recent addition to the benefits
which disability relief annuitants receive
by virtue of their former employment.

MORE THAN 45 tons of powdered milk
sent to the Panama Government by the
United Nation's International Children's
Emergency Fund (UNICEF) recently
was brought to the Pacific side of the
Isthmus from Cristobal on the Panama
Railroad, without charge.
The milk, which is to be distributed
to children in Panama, was stored and
transported free of charge by the Canal
organization at the request of the Pan-
ama Ministry of Labor, Social W\\ir..i .
and Public Health. It had been brought
rn!t to Cristobal on a United Fruit Co. ship.
On hand as the milk was transferred
from the train to trucks were Luis E.
Guizado, Acting Minister of Labor,
Social Welfare, and Public Health, and
Milciades Arosemena of the Department
of Public Health. Bernard Dorfman,
local agent of the Panama Railroad, is
p seen with them in the otcmp.,,il,,
photograph.

IT WILL BE many months before the
new $4 million Gorgas Hospital building
now under construction looks like this
architect's drawing, but the general out-
line of the second floor should begin to
take shape within the next few weeks.
Employees of the W. B. Uhlhorn
Construction Co. are scheduled to begin
work this month on the supporting
columns which will hold the building
one story above the ground.
Despite the heavy rains in November,
which delayed the completion of five of
the underground caissons which will
support the structure, other general
foundation work was carried out by the
contractor. As soon as dry weather
arrives, Case Foundation Co. is expected
to drill the holes for the five remaining
caissons.
The ground floor area under the
building proper is to be used as a
parking lot for at least 100 cars, while
the second floor, which will be 12 feet
above the ground floor level, will house
most Gorgas clinics, a general informa-
tion center, the admitting office, admin-
istrative office, medical record center,
the ( nr I i.-iC.% room, and the pharmacy.

DECEMBER 1, 1961

Tllllii~iii~y'f''.""'"er'c''"r^
1 411 I ....... i.-" ,pr i

rIn l i'l '*^ "i"9 9 l i "l* r rplilr

C,,
t .

1 _
,^5 ie"

S(-

m S

S.

NOW ON DUTY in Chile are 53
members of the Peace Corps who passed
through the Canal aboard the Grace
liner Santa Isabel several weeks ago.
The ship, carrying a large sign
announcing the presence of the youthful
Peace Corps members, transited the
', "Canal on her way to Chile from New
York. The group of Peace Corpsmen,
among the early volunteers to be as-
signed to South America under the new
program, are believed to be the first of
the Corps to pass through the waterway.
The volunteers had an opportunity
to see a little of Panama during their
Isthmian visit, as the vessel on which
1--*--^ they were traveling docked briefly in
S Cristobal to discharge cargo before
M transiting the waterway and proceeding
to I 111I,.

THE FIRST LADY of Panama, Mrs.
Cecilia O. de Chiari, wife of President
Roberto F. Chiari, and a party of six
other persons associated with the Advi-
sory Board of the Panama Institute for
Special Rehabilitation, visited special
education classes at the Canal Zone's
Paraiso schools last month. Mrs. Chiari
is president of the Advisory Board.
Accompanied by W. P. Leber, who

was Acting Governor at the time of her
visit, Mrs. Chiari and members of her
party saw some of the work done by
students in the Paraiso classes and
talked to the teachers about their
methods and teaching materials.
The group was assured that Canal
Zone school officials would provide
whatever assistance they could to help
teachers of the special education classes
conducted by the Panama Institute.

MORE THAN 80 percent of the non-
U.S.-citizen employees of the Canal
organization who are eligible for group
life insurance protection under the
recently developed program had signed
for the insurance by the time the period
for enrolling without taking a physical
examination ended late in October.
Personnel D ,. t ir Edward A. Doolan
said the 80 percent enrollment was
about 20 percent above original expecta-
tions and commended Robert Van
Wagner, Employee Services Officer, for
"the good groundwork" which led to
"this very fine result."
A total of 7,960 of the 9,944 eligible
employees of the Canal organization
have enrolled in the program. Officials
reported that 10 insured employees have
died since the program started and total
death benefits of approximately $50,000
have been paid to their survivors.
The amount of life insurance, which
costs 27% cents per pay period for each
$1,000 of insurance, is based on the
employee's annual salary.
Although enrollment in the program
without t.,hiin a physical examination
has ended, except for new employees,
it still is possible for eligible employees
to qualify for the life insurance coverage
by submitting to a physical examination.

A NEW CANAL ZONE elementary
school, to accommodate approximately
650 pupils, will be built in Fort Clayton
next year by the Canal organization.
According to specifications issued by the
Engineering and Construction Bureau,
the new school will have 21 regular
classrooms, 2 kindergarten rooms, and
5 classrooms for special education. In
addition, there will be air-conditioned
music and audiovisual rooms, a library,
teachers' rooms, and a school office.
A play area will be built nearby. The
school will be made by remodeling a
former Army barracks building.

THE PANAMA CANAL REVIEW

--~

I
1

A private pleasure plane
swoops in for a landing on
grassy strip at France Field.

THROUGH

THE AIR

Travel is a Pleasure

DREAMS of flying through the air are
as old as mythology. Greek legend tells
of Daedalus, who tried to emulate the
birds by making wings for himself and
his son, Icarus, from feathers secured
with string and wax.
Today's flying equipment shows con-
siderable improvement over Daedalus'
invention, but today's airmen still share
his dream of soaring through the air on
their own-in their own planes.
Private pleasure flying is no innova-
tion on the Isthmus. Private planes were
part of the local scene before World
War II, but in 1941 the Governor of the
Canal Zone abolished private flying in
the interest of national defense. Since
1946 a small but active group has
worked to get private flying back in the
Canal Zone. Their efforts were crowned
with success in June 1961, when Gov-
ernor Carter signed a revision of the
supplementary Canal Zone air-naviga-
tion regulations which became effective
almost immediately. The revision imple-
nmented the authority granted by the
Secretary of the Army of the United
States to( permit "basing in the Canal
Zone of private pleasure aircraft bh.-1ni-
ing to members of duly organized civil

air clubs who are entitled to Canal Zone
purchase privileges."
The Canal Zone Civil Air Club oper-
ates from old France Field on the
Atlantic side of the Isthmus. The

Club President B. D. Maynard at controls.

members fly to various points in the
Republic, and enjoy most cordial rela-
tions with fellow flyers in the Republic.
Invitations to "fly-ins" and parties at
various airfields in Panama are part of
the regular social agenda of the club.
At present, three light planes are
based at old France Field. The fact that
the Canal Zone Civil Air Club has more
members than planes is one indication
of the amount of interest in flying. For
instance, one of the planes has six
owners who operate as a club within
the Air Club. Nor does multiple owner-
ship pose a problem, for the six owners
set up their own flight programs and,
never yet, have all six wanted to fly at
the same time.
Bremer L. Jorstad, secretary-treasurer
of the Canal Zone Civil Air Club, pointed
out that private plane ownership is rela-
tively inexpensive. Unlike other equip-
ment, a plane's life expectancy is not
measured in years, for the owners just
keep replacing wornout parts with
new ones, thus gradually rebuilding
the planes.
All the aircraft have to have certifi-
cates of current air-worthiness. The cer-
tificates, until the Air Club moved to
France Field, had been issued by the

14 DECEMBER 1. 1961

Republic of Panama. Attendant on the
move, and through agreement with the
FAA, the planes were transferred to
U.S. registration.
Local traffic patterns are established
to preclude traffic interference. Accord-
ing to the regulations that govern the
Canal Zone Civil Air Club, every aircraft
departing from a base in the Canal Zone
and flying outside an area within a
3-mile radius of the point of departure,
has to file a flight plan with the Federal
Aviation Agency International Flight
Station in the Canal Zone. Moreover, the
navigation, operation, or flight of air-
craft within the Canal Zone Military
Airspace Reservation between the hours
of sunset and sunrise are prohibited
except in the case of an emergency, or
upon special authorization granted by

Mrs. Emily Brooks has soloed, but recently
has left most of the flying to her husband.

the Governor. This means that if a
real life "Josephine" is going to be
invited to take a spin "in a flying ma-
chine" in the Canal Zone, it will never
be by moonlight.
Although the members of the Canal
Zone Civil Air Club have gone on flights
to the San Bias Archipelago, David,
Santa Clara, San Jose, and Medellin,
just for the pleasure of an air trip, they
also have participated time and again
in air-rescue searches. The members are
ready to offer their services at any time
disaster may strike any area.
Nor do they wait for disasters to lend
a hand. During November, the Air Club
loaned its Hangar 44, which normally is
the headquarters, operations office, and
storage area, to the Vincentian Fathers
of Holy Family Church for the annual
holiday fair on the Atlantic side.
President of the Canal Zone Civil Air
Club is B. D. Maynard of Margarita,
who is with the Panama Canal Main-
tenance Division. Capt. E. L. Cotton,
Commander of the Balboa District,
Balboa Fire Station, is the vice-president,
and Mr. Jorstad, the secretary and treas-
urer, is with the Canal's Contract and
Inspection Division.
Board members are Lee Kariger,
Administrative Officer in the Locks
Division; William L. Brooks, Adminis-
trative Assistant on the Thatcher Ferry
Bridge project; and Robin L. Erixon, a
Canal pilot.
The membership ranges from rep-
resentatives from the Health Bureau,
and Navigation Division, to the Director
of the Personnel Bureau, Edward A.
Doolan, who received his private pilot's
license last February.
President Maynard, has logged more
than 3,000 hours' flight time and holds
(See p. 22)

Four of six men who own and share a single
plane pose in front of it. Left to right
are Bremer L. Jorstad, William Brooks,
President Maynard, and Lee Kariger.

Personnel Director E. A. Doolan is a recent
convert and an enthusiastic participant.

Fire Capt. and Mrs. E. L. Cotton beside
plane they use for Central American trips.

THE PANAMA CANAL REVIEW 15

WHAT DOES IT COST to operate a private plane? Something like 5 cents
a mile, the Canal Zone Civil Air Club members figure.
Operational expenditures, for a 4-place, all-metal plane, capable of traveling
120 miles per hour, based on 200 hours per year, with flights from France Field,
are computed as follows:
Per year
Hangar..................................................... $60
Gasoline.................................................... 530
O il........................................ ................. 30
Wash and wax............................................... 120
Inspections .................................................. 100
Total per year......................................... $840
or $4.20 per hour
To this sum is added $2 per hour for the general fund, to pay for major
overhaul, major repairs, parts, paint, etc. Using the $6.20 per hour total as
a basis, a round trip to San Jose would cost $45.

A PROGRAM designed to reduce fire
hazards in Canal Zone living quarters
was started last month, as personnel of
the recently organized fire prevention
unit of the Fire Division started inspec-
tions of living quarters to detect, elimi-
nate, and safeguard against conditions
which could lead to a fire.
In announcing inauguration of the
new program, Governor Carter pointed
out that occupants will be given at
least 1 week's notice of the day on which
an inspection is to be made. He also
emphasized that the intent of the
I "-* i is to help residents avoid fire
hazards rather than to be punitive
in ii way.
I hours of inspection have been
stlAilished to reduce to an absolute
Siimumin anyl possible interference with
i~h~" isold routines. All inspections '.ill
1h nil.u' b!t cn 9:15 and 11:30 a.m.
cr 1 ind It and no inspections will
b .n v ,i when the occupant or
a l ., I ~repsentative is present.
All occup ns of C.inal Zone quarters

will be supplied with a copy of the
fire prevention regulations for l.iil
quarters in advance of any inspection.
The regulations, printed in both Enill;
and Spanish, are being distributed to
all residents prior to the start of
inspections in the various townsites.
The regulations provide that in-
spectors will point out and explain
hazardous conditions and corrective
measures which are necessary. Where
possible, deficiencies will be corrected
immediately. Those which cannot be
corrected immediately will require a
follow-up inspection. A copy of the
report will be furnished the occupant
after inspection is completed.
The National Fire Codes published
1'. the National Fire Protection Associa-
tion will be used as a guide by the
inspectors in cases not covered by local
regulations. Highlights of the local
1i 'ilil,tlioii are:
Extension cords shall not be used as
a substitute for the fixed wiring of a
structure, or run through, under, or

behind parts of the building or rugs.
Fuses in lighting circuits of quarters
are normally of 20 ampere capacity and
the use of other than 20 ampere fuses
without authorization of the Electrical
Division or the use of any metallic
object to bridge a burned-out fuse is
prohibited.
Any electrical or mechanical damage
to wiring, fixtures, receptacles, or
switches should be reported to the Elec-
trical Division district wireman as
promptly as possible.
All heating elements shall have
guards. Damaged or missing guards
shall be reported to the Housing Branch
and the heating element removed until
the guard is replaced or repaired.
Heating elements shall not project
beyond the open end of the guard.
Clothing and other items stored in
heated spaces shall not be permitted to
be in direct contact with heating
element guards and highly flammable
articles or liquids shall not be stored
in heated spaces.

16 DECEMBER 1, 1961

r
ai

tz

FIRE

HAZARDS

Quarters of Company-Government
employees being inspected in fire
prevention campaign.

- i

No more than 10 gallons of flammable
liquids shall be stored and all such
liquids shall be stored in tightly covered
metal containers or safety cans in a
ventilated area.
Gasoline, paint thinner, benzene, and
similar flammable liquids shall not be
used in or under quarters.
Common hallways and stairwells in
multiple family quarters shall not be
used for storage of any article or material.
Excessive or disorderly storage of
material or equipment that could con-
tribute to the cause or extension of fire,
impede firefighting operations, or restrict
exit facilities will not be permitted.
Oily rags or polishing cloths should
be disposed of or kept in tightly covered
metal containers, while oily or polish-
ing mops should be hung in well
ventilated spaces.
Curtains, draperies, and other com-
bustible materials in the vicinity of
stoves shall be installed so the material
will not hang or be blown over heated
surfaces or open flames.
Open fires will not be permitted with-
out prior permission of the Fire Division.
Stoves or grills using charcoal are
prohibited within quarters but may be
placed in patios or in open basements
under quarters.
Repairs to vehicles, motors, and their
fuel systems will be prohibited under
wood frame buildings containing more
than two apartments.
Gas and electric cutting or welding
by occupants in or under quarters is
prohibited. Storage of gas welding
equipment also is prohibited.
Spray painting by occupants will be
permitted only in well ventilated areas
under or outside of quarters.
As pointed out in the regulations, the
rules are prescribed for the protection
of life and property from fire and they
apply to all Company/Government
living quarters in the Canal Zone.
In providing for prior notice to occu-
pants of the day on which an inspection
is to be made, the regulations provide
that those not expecting to be home on
the scheduled day should call Fire Divi-
sion officials and set a date and time
when the inspection can be made. In
the Balboa District, occupants should
call 2-2128 to make such arrangements,
while 3-2126 is the number in the
Cristobal District.
The inspectors, who have been
given extensive instruction in inspection
methods, will wear dark blue trousers
and light blue shirts while on duty. In
addition to being instructed in inspec-
tion techniques and regulations. The
inspectors will not correct deficiencies,
but will point them out and explain how
they can be corrected.

Christmas

Eve

of

The

Safe

f'orker

'Twas the night before Christmas, and all through the crew
Every man had his mind on the things he should do
To bring to his family such pleasure and joys
As the season afforded, like candy and toys,
Like Santa Claus stories of reindeer in flight,
Like a tree all aglitter with tinsel and light.
And in each worker's heart sang the truth like a hymn,
That the family's great need was in just having him.
For with him there was safety, protection and love
And all of like blessings that come from above.
Each knew that his duty to family and self
Was to work without accident, guarding his health,
So that children and helpmate, would not weep with cause
For their husband and father-their own Santa Claus!

AS THE STEEL framework of Thatcher
Ferry Bridge began to give an indica-
tion of things to come, the task of
widening the east side approach road-
ways to the bridge also was starting to
take on visible form as December arrived.
Completion of the widening work on
Tivoli Avenue from "J" Street to Ancon
Boulevard was scheduled for this
month, just as bids were to be taken for
the final approach sections of roadway.
The final approach on the east side will
run from Avenue "A" to the bridge, a
distance of about 1% miles, while that
on the west bank will run from the end
of the bridge to a point ,lihtl\ more
than one half mile away to join
Thatcher Highway.
The reopening of Tivoli Avenue to
2-way traffic this month will end some
detours in this area which have been
in operation since the beginning of the
widening work some months ago. The
temporary ti ifit. bottleneck created by
alteration work at the junction of Tivoli
Avenue and Shaler Road also is slated
for elimination this month as work is
completed there.
Much of the work this month will be
devoted to construction of a short con-
necting riol.d i.i\ from Ancon Boulevard
to Tivoli Avenue near the Tivoli Guest
House. This roadway eventually will
replace Tivoli Avenue as the connecting
roadway between Ancon Boulevard and
the Guest House. The present inter-
section of Ancon Boulevard with Tivoli
Avenue will be maintained throughout
the continued widening work, but will
be eliminated before the new highway
is opened.
Advance work necessary to construc-
tion of the new i'_'li]h io which i ilI pass
il,l,i,,il, Slialer Ti .mgl. cross the pre-
nii 'lI.iL i Road, and then follow the
course of the present railroad tracks to
a junction with Roosevelt HI nIhn,.I near
the Panama Railroad Station also will
be carried out this month. This work
probably will include the removal of
some of the bamboo now growing adja-
cent to Shaler Road. The continuing
work on these roadways will necessitate
,1 nlu r otf temporary detours.
'i: .*ii lines on the two accom-
S .i rphsls show the course
S \ between Ancon
i ,.illl rd Highway, as
Stii r .i l of the Panama
Ruaii Te Id wav between
Antcoil ., ,i Avenue
also is show,

Wi lni i ni-ir-k. extension of roadways.
and < i tr i tii tion of new pavement all
parts of ri ildre work.

18 DECEMBER 1, 1961

g, ...., ti ',;..
-.

e- -
:-

ALL-OUT EFFORTS to achieve the
$145,000 goal of the 1961 Canal Zone
United Fund Campaign were being
made during the last half of November,
as organizations which had not yet
achieved their goals made determined
attempts to improve their level of
participation.
To give the lagging organizations an
opportunity to complete solicitations
and reach their respective goals, Gov-
ernor Carter, who serves as President of
the Canal Zone United Fund, author-
ized extension of the campaign thliunul
December 2.
With 12 days to go as the REVIEW
went to press, contributions and pledges
were $18,209 short of the $145,000
goal. Campaign Chairman L. A. Fergu-
son, Director of the Canal organiza-
tion's Supply and Cniyniruniti Service
Bureau, still was hopeful that the total
amount would be raised before the
campaign closed.
The campaign report covering results
through November 20 showed that
87.4 percent of the total goal had been
pledged. Employees of the Panama
Canal Company, Canal Zone Govern-
ment had contributed $67,125 or 93.2
percent of the $72,000 goal assigned to
the agency, while the combined contri-
butions from other agencies and special
gifts totaled $59,666, or 81.7 percent of
the $73,000 goal for them.
Personnel of the Army, with a goal of
$25,000, had made contributions total-
ing $18,512, or 74 percent of the goal.
Navy personnel had contributed $3,881,
or 97 percent of the $4,000 goal; Air
Force contributions totaled $4,123, or
82.5 percent of the $5,000 goal ;and
contributions from the personnel of all
other Government agencies had reached
$1,266, or 126.6 percent of the $1,000
goal. The other Government agencies
solicited in the fund drive are the U.S.
District Court, the Federal Aviation
Agency, Middle America Research Unit,
Point Four, Bureau of Public Roads,
Embassy, Veterans Administration, and
the Smithsonian Institution.
Within the Company/Government,
the following contributions had been
received toward the goal of $72,000:
Office of the Governor-President,
$2,857; Office of the Comptroller,
$4,663; Civil Affairs Bureau, $11,388;
Engineering and Construction Bureau,
$11,976; Health Bureau, $6,377; Marine
Bureau, $14.525, Personnel Bureau,
$1,713; Supply and Community Service
Bureau, $7,734; and Transportation and
Terminals Bureau, $5,891.

The First
Lady of Panama,
right, and
Mrs. W. P. Leber,
accompanied
their husbands on
a visit to the
United Fund Trade Fair.

N11Ti 11111
UNITED FUND

REPORT

President Chiari at the United Fund Trade Fair. Shown, left to right, are Minister of the
Treasury Gilberto Arias, Lt. Federico Boyd, President Chiari, United Fund Campaign
Chairman L. A. Ferguson, and W. P. Leber, Acting Governor at time of President's visit.

the club record, to date. All his flying
\wasn't done in the Canal Zone, however,
for lie was one of the U.S. Army Air
(crps .I .i who served as flight in-
t-ii t*,rs 1.ii r;. the last war. His flight
.il, 'r ci adets at an Army Air Force
;; ii '. He still continues flight
i, r, iir l ,ikq, !.1. 1;I.n an instructor's
lic .1, 1/ 1 \ '
Thr ( i ,i. ( ivil Air Club is not
a "ien ,cii hlb. for three of the

members' wives have soloed. Mrs. Nancy
Jorstad, Mrs. Emily Brooks, and Mrs.
Corinne Anderson have taken flight
instruction but are inclined to leave
most of the flying to their husbands.
Thus the Canal Zone Civil Air Club has
added women to the all-male fraternity
instituted by Daedalus and his son-a
fraternity which constantly is expand-
ing as more and more people become
interested in private pleasure fl'. in

50 Years Ago
A CONTRACT for one electric locomo-
tive for towing ships through the locks,
and a provisional award for 39 others, if
the first one proved satisfactory, was
awarded to the General Electric Co. Five
bids for the 40 machines were received,
the highest being for $827,395.95 and
the lowest $498,016.35, that of the
General Electric Co.
The first consignment of towing track,
consisting of 60 sections of rack track,
each 6 feet in length, had arrived at
Gatun Locks and installation was started.
The track was to be delivered at the rate
of 240 sections each week, to complete
the requirements for all three sets of
locks by October 1, 1912.
Residents of the village of Las Cas-
cadas raised a fund for the Christmas
dinner of patients at Palo Seco Lepro-
sarium, supplying turkeys, cranberries,
vegetables, fruits, cakes, puddings, and
candies. The Canal Zone Federation of
Women's Clubs sent a Christmas box to
Palo Seco with a gift for each patient, in
accordance with a custom established in
1909. The Altar Guild of St. Luke's
Church, Ancon, presented gifts to various
wards in Ancon Hospital.
As December ended, it was reported
that retired Lt. Gen. Sir Robert Baden-
Powell of the British Army, founder of

the Boy Scout movement, would visit
the Isthmus during January.
The excavation in Gaillard Cut during
December totaled 1,351,082 cubic yards,
the L'.it-tit amount ever excavated
during a December. The 1911 excava-
tion in the Cut of 16,596,891 cubic yards
brought the total during the American
period to 73,502,824 cubic yards and it
was estimated that 15,941,181 cubic
yards remained to be excavated to
complete the work.
25 Years Ago
THE 1936 treaty between Panama and
the United States was ratified 25 years
.ia., this December, when the Panama
N.ila- mn. Assembly approved the pact by
a vote of 27 to 4. It was then iI n-i, by
President Juan Dem6stenes Arosemena.
A broad legislative pr,'"l.i.n of bene-
fits for employees of the Canal organiza-
tion was approved by the Panama
Canal Metal Trades Council, which sent
Charles F. \\ .ihl to \ .ashlinmrgtn as its
representative. The proaig.am \ hiah the
union hoped Congress would consider,
included commutation of leave, full
25 percent ddhla.l~1til.. 25-year retire-
ment, widows annuity, cumulative leave,
and a shorter work week.
Twenty-four hour operation of the
Canal was ordered at the end of the
month to accommodate Canal traffic

during the Pacific locks overhaul which
started December 30. In addition to the
Locks personnel, the 24-hour order
applied to Pacific-side quarantine, immi-
gration, customs, amlr, is.inii, and
similar operations.

10 Years Ago
ANOTHER change in the organiza-
tional set up of the Panama Canal Com-
pany was made 10 years ago, when the
Municipal and Building Divisions were
combined into a single new division in
order to reduce overhead and operating
expenses. The new unit, named the
Maintenance Division, went into opera-
tion January 1, 1952, headed by Frank
H. Lerchen, then Municipal Eriii,,- r.
An invitation for bids was issued in
December 1951 on the first of two major
groups of construction and townsite
projects included in the Canal's 1952
fiscal year housing program. The project
was to include construction of 115
2-f.arill\ masonry quarters in Paraiso;
48 buildings containing 56 apartments
in Ancon; 7 cottages and 4 duplexes on
Morgan Avenue in Balboa; and 10
cottages and 2 duplex buildings in
Diablo Heights.
The old commissary coupon book
system dil )lppL.ntlcd from the Canal
Zone 10 years ago. All retail stores in
the Canal Zone were placed on a cash
sales basis when they reopened for
business after the Christmas holidays.
In Panama, the United Nations Con-
ference on External Trade and Balance
of Payment Statistics convened in the
Hotel El Panama with more than 50
delegates. It was the first meeting of its
kind to be held by the United Nations
in Panama.

1 Year Ago
LAST DECEMBER began with a
deluge of rain which was concentrated
more on the Atlantic side than on the
Pacific side. During the first 6 days of
the month, Cristobal reported 19.30
inches of rainfall and during a 24-hour
period ending at 8 a.m., December 7,
6 of the 14 gates at Gatun spillway were
opened at various times to control the
volume of water in Gatun Lake. A total
of 359,.-.1 acre feet of water was spilled
from Gatun Spillway, which would have
increased the depth of Gatun Lake ,.
3.4 feet if it had not been %pillthd.

PPI

Christmas Cruise
A SPECIAL Christmas and New Year's
cruise will bring the Moore McCormack
Line's Brazil into Cristobal for the first
time on December 28. The new ship,
carrying 350 passengers, is making one
of her first Caribbean cruises of the
season and will remain at dock in Cris-
tobal for nearly 24 hours. A second trip
to the Isthmus will be made by the
Brazil on February 13 on a C.ihbra'tl .l
cruise from New York.
The Brazil is one of the two Moore
McCormack Line passengers ships built
last year for the east coast of South
America trade. It is entering on cruise
service for the first time this year.

Oil Barges Transit
A PAIR of 21ill,-f t oil barges, brought
to the Isthmus from Japan aboard the
Ore Venus, were towed through the
Canal during November and taken to
Las Minas Bay, where they will be used
by the new Panama Refinery.
The barges arrived here in halves and
were unloaded in Balboa harbor by the
Panama Canal floating crane Hercules.
Each half represented one of the heaviest
single loads ever handled by the big
crane. They also were the first oil barges
to be towed through the Canal since
World War II.

New Port Captain
CAPT. ELI D. RING, U.S.N., has been
appointed Port Captain in Cristobal to
succeed Capt. Axton T. Jones, it has
been announced by the Marine Bureau.
Captain Ring is due to arrive on the
Isthmus early in January from the U.S.
Atlantic Fleet, where he has been on
duty as Commander of Destroyer Divi-
sion 162. He is married and has a
17-year-old son.
During the past 10 years, Captain
Ring has served as Commanding Officer
of the U.S.S. Brownson DD868, and
Executive Officer of the U.S.S. Gen-
eral H. W. Butner, AP113. He was
also Mobilization Plans Officer in the
Headquarters of the Military Sea
Transportation Service.
Captain Jones, who served as Port
Captain in Cristobal from 1959, recently
retired from Navy service and was
appointed Director of the Transportation
and Terminals Bureau.

New Cargo Service
FREIGHTERS of the American Pres-
ident Lines round-the-world service
may be permitted to call at Canal ports
in the near future, under terms of deci-
sion by the Maritime Subsidy Board.
The Board Iru- ntlh approved an amend-
ment to the service description of the
American President Lines round-the-
world service which would permit the
vessels to call here. The ships may not,
however, load or discharge cargo from
or to U.S. Atlantic ports nor from Cal-
ifornia ports and cannot handle trans-
shipped cargo between such ports and
the Canal Zone.

COING
S' N Panama Agencies, which represent
Ell American President Lines at the Canal,
i96i0 191 said the Maritime Subsidy Board deci-
i:; 435 sion has not yet become effective. At
I1 20 present there are more than a dozen
8 2 round-the-world cargo ships and two
-37 1-5 round-the-world passenger liners owned
by the Lines which use the Canal
regularly.

Two New Cruise Ships
TWO SISTER ships owned by the Zim
Israel Navigation Co. will call at Canal
ports for the first time during the
1961-62 winter cruise season. They are
the passenger liners Jerusalem and
Theodor Herzl, both making special
winter cruises with approximately 300
passengers aboard.
The Jerusalem, which made its first
visit to Cristobal on November 27 out
of Miami, will call again December 29
and February 24. All three trips will
take the ship to Caribbean ports and
will return the passengers to New York.
The llLoul',r Herzl is due in Balboa
March 8 on the last leg of a round-the-
world voyage which started at Buenos
Aires. The ship will make the Canal
transit northbound and dock in Cristobal.
Both the Jerusalem and the Theodor
Herzl were built in 1957 and during the
summer months run between Mediter-
ranean ports and Haifa. Both are air
conditioned. The arrival of the two ships
at the Canal was announced recently by
the United Fruit Co., which has been
appointed agent for the Zim Line at
the Canal.

Far East Service
A NEW direct cargo service through
the Canal between U.S. east coast ports
and Japan, Hong Kong, and the Philip-
pine Islands was started in October by
the Pacific Star Line, with the sailing
of the 15,000-ton Israeli flag cargo
motorship Negba from New York.
Her sister ship, MS Ampal, was due
at the Canal in November on her way
east from Hong Kong and Japan. Sub-
sequent sailings, according to the United
Fruit Co., agents here for the line, will
be monthly in both directions the
year around.
In addition to the Negba and Ampal,
both built for Zim Lines in 1958, the
MS Degaya and the MS Teverya, sister
ships built for Zim in 1960 and 1961,
will be employed on the new trade route.